Solving Tel Aviv University’s Proportional HVAC Billing Challenge

The Customer: Shikun & Binui Infrastructure and Real Estate

HVAC System: Multiple Hitachi VRF systems

Solutions

Tel-Aviv University is a globally recognized academic institution with over 30,000 students. The University’s Broshim Dorms, also known as the Millie Phillips Student City, is a 60,000-square-meter complex comprising eight high-rise dormitory buildings interconnected by retail spaces. The complex houses over 1,700 students and faculty members.

With 1,300 dorm rooms serviced by multiple VRF systems, accurate electricity billing was a challenge from the get-go. Extrapolating the specific energy use of units from systems’ general consumption is a complex task, with many organizations choosing to simply divide the total consumption by the number of units, billing tenants for average electrical usage rather than actual consumption. This often results in tenant disputes and dissatisfaction.

Following the dormitories’ construction, project developers Shikun & Binui chose a proprietary HVAC manufacturer power proportional distribution (PPD) solution offered by a local distributor, which helped resolve these concerns and allow for more accurate billing. Unfortunately, the local distributor ceased operations several years later, and the HVAC manufacturer chose to discontinue its presence within the country. 

Consequently, the University could no longer accurately bill dorm tenants based on actual consumption. This is because the PPD solutions offered by HVAC manufacturers can only be used with their own systems.

In a bid to continue accurately billing tenants, Shikun & Binui opted for CoolAutomation’s VRF PPD solution, which boasts universal support of all major HVAC system brands. Upon request, CoolAutomation provided the dorms with its smart edge devices, which were duly linked to its existing HVAC systems.

Using these devices, all HVAC systems were connected to CoolAutomation’s advanced VRF Power Distribution cloud-based application. Leveraging a unique algorithm that accurately calculates the actual operational ratio and kWh of each HVAC indoor unit, the application ensures accurate billing of tenants within the complex.